Miraclon is expanding its global presence through a new partnership with Phoenix Technologies, one of the Persian Gulf region’s leading technology solutions providers for the print and packaging industries. Based in Dubai, Phoenix will act as Miraclon’s local distributor partner serving a host of Arab states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Digital printing is becoming increasingly important, especially in the packaging industry. The reasons for this are shorter product cycles as well as the ongoing trend of personalized print products. In general, the desire for more flexibility in print production is an industry-wide trend.

Kodak and Dataline Solutions have just entered into a Certified Partnership to advance process integration and networking between management information systems (MIS or ERP systems) and the digital production workflow in the printing industry.

Agfa introduces a plate loading robot that streamlines and speeds up printers’ prepress operations, while reducing the overall cost.

Agfa’s robotic plate loader frees prepress staff from heavy manual, repetitive tasks such as plate loading cassettes of autoloaders, or fixing pallets on the base frame of skid loaders.

The Stifterverband association has once again presented ppi Media with its “Innovation through Research” seal. The basis for the award is an annual survey conducted by the association’s department for science statistics on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Multi-Language support on Easy Cut Studio helps more people easily use the sign design and cutting software on macOS and Windows.

HYBRID Software understands that the successes of its customers rely on advanced technologies in combination with exceptional service and care. On the day that was scheduled to open drupa 2020, HYBRID Software has introduced a number of new revolutionary features to its product line of automated production workflow, advanced editing, customizable job ticketing, customer-facing e-commerce portals and version control for critical production files.

Tectonics is a brand-new application from HYBRID Software which saves Flexo plate material and optimizes the use of your Flexo CTP devices. The software allows Flexo customers to automatically optimize the layout of their jobs, reduce waste and optimize CTP usage. As a result, the software has a typical return-on-investment within the first six months.

Cutting system manufacturer Zünd and French software developer Caldera launch PrimeCenter, a new prepress automation software. As control center, PrimeCenter ensures an efficient and productive prepress workflow. Preparing fully nested layouts is done in just a few clicks – or in a completely automated process.

A Transparency Label Generator has recently become available on etikett.de. Here, customers can configure secure labels on their own using the transparency process and thus protect their brands from product counterfeiting. The entire process - from order entry and print approval to production - is fully automated. The basis for this is pdfChip from callas software and a page description developed by calibrate Gmbh, which saves the label design entered by the customer as a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file and passes it on to pdfChip via an interface.

• Fully automated line with minimum operator intervention, resulting in more plate production even after the end of a shift
• An open system allowing easy loading of plates even from other Imagers into the Catena line
• Access to production data of all modules, provides a brand new level of pro-active maintenance, minimizing the need for physical service intervention

Esko has rolled out a new XPS Crystal Certification Program to recognize those plate making businesses that consistently produce superior flexo plates and flexographic print quality.